Even without snow, Torrington parking ban is in effect

TORRINGTON >> Residents of the city awoke earlier this week to find orange parking tickets strapped to their windshields, some unsure of the crime they had committed.

Torrington police began issuing warnings on Nov. 1, the beginning of the annual winter parking ban season, but despite any plow blades hitting the roads, or any snow making an impact overnight, tickets started being issued Monday. The on-street winter parking ban continues until April 1.

For the first few weeks of November, Torrington Police Department issued 155 warnings, telling residents that stronger measures were on their way. As of Friday morning, the police have reported 261 tickets associated with the winter parking ban.

With each ticket comes a $20 fine, which is $10 more than a typical meter citation.

Torrington Police, according to Chief Michael Maniago's monthly report, issued 175 parking tickets combined -- both parking enforcement and patrol officers can write up residents -- and have collected $6,381.40 from fines, tickets and other methods.

To date, 10,359 parking tickets remain unpaid in the city, with the culprits owing $311,519.21. If a ticket goes unpaid, the $20 cost doubles, then later, triples. After the fine triples and remains unpaid, Torrington Police work with the Department of Motor Vehicles to suspend driver's licenses.

The first two weeks of ticket warnings, issued on the windshield of vehicles, and on city websites, still wasn't enough for some residents. While this reporter was waiting inside Torrington Police headquarters, a resident who declined to comment, told the police officers there that he "didn't know" the parking ban was in effect. This resident's ticket came on Monday night, despite there being no snow in the forecast.

The city ordinance, according to Torrington Police's website posting, "forbids parking on any city street or in any city owned parking lot between the hours of 12 Midnight and 7 a.m. for any period over one hour."

In addition, another city ordinance requires residents to remove or treat snow, sleet and ice on city sidewalks in front of their house or face a $75 fine.